Getting from Paracas to Lima: A traveler review

Once you’ve basked on the shores of Paracas’ beaches and got your fill of birdwatching, you might be ready to see if the ceviche in Lima can rival what you’ve eaten so far. But how will you get there? 

Here’s some good news: Traveling from Paracas to Lima is easy thanks to many daily bus departures. I took the Cruz del Sur bus to Lima and had such a great ride (and snooze) that I was reluctant to get off the bus when I arrived. I’ll let you in on my experience here and share advice that’ll leave your fellow bus-goers jealous of your savvy travel instincts. 

Picking the right bus from Paracas to Lima

Three popular long-distance buses serve the Paracas to Lima route. They include:

Cruz del Sur Paracas: They have 140-degree and 160-degree reclining seats on their two-story buses. There’s only a $3 difference between these seat categories, but I’ll explain why I think the 140-degree seats are a better deal shortly.

Oltursa Paracas: They provide similar amenities as Cruz del Sur for around the same price point. Their two-story buses have 140-degree and 160-degree reclining seat options. However, they only offer one morning departure per day to Lima. 

Peru Bus: If you’re not the kind of person that needs many amenities to have a great trip, taking Peru Bus to Lima is a great choice. They’ve been in business since 1980 and have one morning and one afternoon departure per day. 

The best bus seats for sightseeing

There’s nothing like traveling to a new destination and having to dodge three heads to catch a glimpse of the better view from the window opposite of where you’re sitting. So, let me save you the trouble—book a seat on the driver’s side of the bus. That way, you’ll get periodic ocean views throughout the trip from Paracas to Lima.

But I encourage you to take it one step further—if you book a trip with Cruz del Sur or Oltursa, you can have front row seats on the second story of these buses. That means you’ll have to forfeit the seats that recline more on the first floor. But it’s a relatively short ride to Lima, (under four hours), and views like the one below make it worth it.

Hanging out at the Paracas Cruz del Sur bus station

It may sound silly to use the words “hanging out” at a bus station, but I did this for two reasons. First, there’s a good chance your bus could be delayed since it’ll be coming from another destination. Secondly, the Cruz del Sur bus station is a peaceful escape from Paracas’ bustling downtown.

You also might get graced by the presence of Flaca, the Cruz del Sur bus station’s dog. She loves lounging in the outdoor waiting area and keeping an eye out for incoming buses.

When you’re not trying to steal Flaca’s attention, you can charge your phone at the bus station’s charging table or buy a little snack at the ticket counter. If you’re traveling with luggage, you’ll need to bring your bags to the baggage drop-off area. They’ll put a ticket on your luggage and give you the stub so that you can pick them up upon your arrival in Lima.

Cruz del Sur bus schedule

Cruz del Sur offers several departures throughout the day from Paracas to Lima. And from Lima to Paracas.

They say the travel time takes 3 hours, 45 minutes. However, my bus arrived 20 minutes late, and we arrived in Lima 30 minutes after the scheduled time. Part of this has to do with Paracas being a stop along the route from southern destinations like Ica and Nazca, where it can get delayed.

However, from previous experience, late arrivals are fairly common with any bus company due to the heavy traffic in Lima. So, it’s best to approach your trip expecting some delays.

What to expect on the journey from Paracas to Lima

The Paracas to Lima bus ride will fly by, especially if you pick a good seat. You’ll get to enjoy diverse scenery, including desert, hills, towns, and the Pacific Ocean. There are some curves but no steep drop-offs. Most of the ride is straight, though, and you’ll never be at a high enough elevation for altitude sickness to set in.

The Cruz del Sur bus itself has many amenities to make your ride comfortable. Even the 140-degree seats are spacious and include large leg rests. You’ll have a personal television and a USB charger. There’s an onboard restroom, and technically they offer WiFi. However, I’ve never had good luck connecting with it on any of my Cruz del Sur rides.

Preparing for your arrival in Lima

The Lima Cruz del Sur bus station is busier than Paracas, but it’s still small enough to make it easy to manage. If you have checked luggage, you can pick it up in the luggage area at the back of the station. 

From there, I recommend using an Uber to take you to your destination in Lima. There’s no shortage of taxi drivers that’ll be offering you rides, but it’s best not to take taxis off the street there.

Is a Lima day trip possible?

Whether you want to visit Lima in a day from Paracas or vice versa, it’s technically possible.

However, it’s best to get a rental car or hire a private driver since taking the bus will involve at least an eight-hour travel commitment. Even so, I don’t recommend it—both Lima and Paracas deserve more than the few hours you’d be able to dedicate to them when taking a day trip. Why not make that day trip into a weekend trip in Peru?

Day trips aside, if you enjoy the journey to a destination as much as exploring the destination itself, you’ll love traveling from Paracas to Lima. As a final tip, don’t leave Paracas without trying chocotejas (homemade chocolates native to the Paracas region). They make for great treats to bring home, too! 

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